Behold the power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 79:

Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem

A Psalm of Asaph.

79 O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance;

they have defiled thy holy temple;

they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

2 They have given the bodies of thy servants

to the birds of the air for food,

the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 They have poured out their blood like water

round about Jerusalem,

and there was none to bury them.

4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors,

mocked and derided by those round about us.

5 How long, O Lord? Wilt thou be angry for ever?

Will thy jealous wrath burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy anger on the nations

that do not know thee,

and on the kingdoms

that do not call on thy name!

7 For they have devoured Jacob,

and laid waste his habitation.

8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers;

let thy compassion come speedily to meet us,

for we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of thy name;

deliver us, and forgive our sins,

for thy name’s sake!

10 Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of thy servants

be known among the nations before our eyes!

11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before thee;

according to thy great power preserve those doomed to die!

12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors

the taunts with which they have taunted thee, O Lord!

13 Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture,

will give thanks to thee for ever;

from generation to generation we will recount thy praise.

Behold the power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 140:

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

140 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from violent men,

2 who plan evil things in their heart,

and stir up wars continually.

3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,

and under their lips is the poison of vipers. Selah

4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from violent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

5 Arrogant men have hidden a trap for me,

and with cords they have spread a net,

by the wayside they have set snares for me. Selah

6 I say to the Lord, Thou art my God;

give ear to the voice of my supplications, O Lord!

7 O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,

thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

do not further his evil plot! Selah

9 Those who surround me lift up their head,

let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

10 Let burning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into pits, no more to rise!

11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the afflicted,

and executes justice for the needy.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name;

the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Behold the Power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 141:

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

141 I call upon thee, O Lord; make haste to me!

Give ear to my voice, when I call to thee!

2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee,

and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!

3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord,

keep watch over the door of my lips!

4 Incline not my heart to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with men who work iniquity;

and let me not eat of their dainties!

5 Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness,

but let the oil of the wicked never anoint my head;

for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.

6 When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,

then they shall learn that the word of the Lord is true.

7 As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land,

so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.

8 But my eyes are toward thee, O Lord God;

in thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

9 Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me,

and from the snares of evildoers!

10 Let the wicked together fall into their own nets,

while I escape.

ORIGINAL PRAYER TO ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, and spirits of evil.

Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist Thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels.

Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men; his depraved mind, corrupt heart, his spirit of lying, impiety, blasphemy, his pestilential breath of impurity and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the Spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate Thee as their protector and patron; in Thee Holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to Thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, do Thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations.

Amen.

This St. Michael’s Prayer is the original version as written by Pope Leo XIII. It was originally published in the Roman Raccolta of July 23, 1898, and a supplement approved July 31, 1902.

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Behold the power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 148:

Praise for God’s Universal Glory

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens,

praise him in the heights!

2 Praise him, all his angels,

praise him, all his host!

3 Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, all you shining stars!

4 Praise him, you highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!

For he commanded and they were created.

6 And he established them for ever and ever;

he fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,

you sea monsters and all deeps,

8 fire and hail, snow and frost,

stormy wind fulfilling his command!

9 Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

10 Beasts and all cattle,

creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

12 Young men and maidens together,

old men and children!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his glory is above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his saints,

for the people of Israel who are near to him.

Praise the Lord!